Aims of the symposium:

In recent years, our understanding of mutualistic interactions has significantly advanced. Rigorous experimental studies have fostered new insights and enhanced mutualism theory. This symposium aims at highlighting the latest developments in the field by drawing together both theoretical and empirical contributions, thereby analysing the evolutionary ecology of mutualisms on all levels of biological organisation. Topics that will be covered include, but are not limited to:

i) cooperation and conflict in mutualistic interactions ii) factors that promote the evolution and maintenance of mutualismsiii) coevolutionary consequences and evolutionary genetics of mutualistic interactionsiv) costs and benefits that result from mutualistic interactions

This symposium aims not only at providing a platform to discuss the latest developments in the field of mutualism research, but shall also help to identify future avenues.